Social networking links

Search form

What we do

An inspiring vision

The Blavatnik School of Government is a global school pursuing a vision of a world better led, a world better served and a world better governed.

We believe that the Blavatnik School of Government can improve the quality of government and public policy-making worldwide, so that citizens can enjoy more secure and more fulfilled lives. We are committed to excellence in leadership and public policy education through three priorities:

Research: we produce and communicate excellent and impactful research and we help others address real-life policy challenges

Engage: we forge networks that enable policy leaders to learn from each other and from top scholars to generate solutions and share best practice.

A new chapter in Oxford’s history

The Blavatnik School of Government is one of the newest and most vibrant departments of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 2010, thanks to a £75 million donation by American philanthropist Leonard Blavatnik. In 2012 we admitted the first 38 students for the Master in Public Policy (MPP) programme and from 2015 we have started recruiting up to 120 MPP students per year.

Exceptional people

The Blavatnik School of Government has already developed an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching and research. As part of the University of Oxford, we have a superb faculty that includes world-class academics and practitioners, as well as a team of up-and-rising postdoctoral fellows, who provide a backbone of research support for the School. And our excellent team of administrative staff is just as committed to the School's vision as the faculty and students they support.

Innovative programmes

Our Master in Public Policy (MPP) is an intensive one-year graduate degree, taking a broad view of how public policy is made, implemented and evaluated at local, regional and global levels. Our Doctorate (DPhil) in Public Policy offers an opportunity for students to pursue academically rigorous research in a specific public policy issue. The DPhil is a full-time three-year applied research degree. We also develop and deliver a range of special events and intensive Executive Education courses for senior professionals and policymakers working on some of today’s toughest challenges.

Policy relevant research

We foster a dynamic programme of policy relevant and academically excellent research that has the potential for positive, real-world impact. Our aim is to identify and develop practical strategies for dealing with the challenges policymakers face. Through our academic programmes and Executive Education, we are able to bring the latest research right into the classroom so that students can be a part of discovering and advancing knowledge on the cutting-edge of addressing public policy challenges.